Air-operated electrically-controlled valve mechanism for air-brake and train-stopping systems.



J. P. WEBB, JR.

AIR OPBRATED ELEQTBIGALLY CONTROLLED VALVE MECHANISM FOR AIR BRAKE AND TRAIN STOPPING SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1909.

948,404. Patented Feb.8, 1910.

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BY A onnsr a INI/ENTUR ,J. F. WEBB, JR. 4 AIR OPERATED ELEGTEIOALLY CONTROLLED VALVE MECHANISM FOR AIR BRAKE AND TRAIN STOPPING SYSTEMS. APPLIGATION FILED APB. 7, 1909.

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J. F. WEBB JR. AIR OPERATED ELEGTBIGALI JY CONTROLLED VALVEMEGHANISM FOB AIR BRAKE AND TRAIN 7 STOPPING SYSTEMS. 948,404.

APPLICATION IILEDAPB. 7, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

6V 3 E WITNESSES. "VI/ENTUR H zy M Jeam/l? WebhJ-rn' J. F. WEBB, JR. AIR OPERATED ELEGTRIGALLY CONTROLLED VALVE MECHANISM FOR AIR BRAKE AND TRAIN STOPPING SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1909.

Patented Feb.8, 1910. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4. DJ. 1.1

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INVENTOR Jeccrz/ FWGZD, J 1.

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J. F. WEBB JR. AIR 0231mm) \ELEOTRIOALLY CONTROLLED VALVEMEOHANISM FOR AIR BRAKE-AND '1' STOPPING SYSTEMS.

PPLIUATION FILED APR. 7, 1909. 943,404, Patented Feb. 8, 1910. a SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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W/TNE88E8: r INVENTOR JeavvlZ'WebhJ-n.

' J. F. WEBB, JR. AIR OPERATED ELEGTRIGALLY CONTROLLED VALVE MECHANISM FOR AIR BRAKE AND TRAIN STOPPING SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1909.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AND SEMAPHORE 00., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., INCORPORATED.

AIR-OPERATED .ELECTRIGALLY-CONTROLLED VALVE MECHANISM FOR AIR-BRAKE AND TRAIN-STOPPING SYSTEMS.-

Specification of I etters Patent.

' Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

Application filed April 7,1909. Serial No. 488,390. I

Mechanisms for Air-Brake and Train-Stop ping Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention embodies several different forms of air operated electrically controlled valve mechanisms for use in train stopping and' controlling systems to set the air brakes of a train through the medium of the opening of an electric circuit.

Generically my present invention'utilizes an electrically controlled lever mechanism for maintaining an exhausting air passage,

*from the air brake train. pipe, norma closed, the use of the holding lever enablin a weaker controlling magnet to be used an hence economize in the expenditure of the electric energy necessary to energize such magnet, and at the same time render the operation of the mechanism more sensitive.

More specifically my invention as evidenced by this application discloses several difierent ways of accomplishing the same general result as that accomplished by the electrically controlled air operated valve mechanism which forms the subject-matter of my co-pending application filed March 1, 1909, Serial No. 480,551.

In its detail nature the present invention also includes those novel details of construction, combination and arrangement offarts, all of which will be first described an then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a side elevation of one form of my invention, parts being broken away and the casing being shown in section. Fig.

2, is a top plan view thereof, the casing being shown in section. Fig. 3, is a vertical longitudinal section of the second form of my invention. Fig. ,4, is a similar view of athird form of myinvention. Fi 5, is an enlarged vertical section of the vave mechanism proper. disclosedjin-Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a similar view of a. slightly modified form. of

tnevalve construction shown in Fig. Fig.

7, is a side elevatien and art central vertl cal longitudinal section 0 a fourth form of my invention. Fig; 8, is a view similar to Fig. 7 of a fifth form of my invention. Fig. 9, is another view and partly in elevation of a sixth form of my, invention. Fig. 10, is a View similar to Fig. 9, of a seventh form of myinvention. Fig. 11, is an elevation and part central vertical JEAN F. WEBB, JR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 THEEIIECTRIC SIGNAG RAPH I artly in central section longitudinal section of an eighth form of my invention. Fig. 12, is a horizontal sec. tion on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11. Fig. 13, is .another view partly in central vertical longitudinal section and partly in elevation of another form of the invention. Fig. 14, is a horizontal section on the line 14-14 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15, is an enlarged detail view of'the ball and socket connection between the armature and the lever. Figs. 16 and 17, are views in longitudinal section and part elevation of further modifications.

In, the drawings those parts which in purpose and function are common to all .of the forms of my invention herein dis.-

closed are designated by the same reference numerals.

Each form of my invention embodies aelectromagnet 2, having the wire terminals 3, to which the controlling circuit, '(not shown) is connected. Each form also includes a support 4v to which, on a pivot 6, an armature carrying va-lve cont-rolling lever 5 'is' secured, the lever 5 having asocket 7 to receive the ball 9 of the armature 8.

A housing 16, (shown only in Figs. 1 I

and 2) may inclose the operating partsof myinve'ntion:

The base 1 of the formfifimy in vehtidfi 11 and held closed by the valve 14-. that is secured tothe lever '5 by a screw '15, or other equivalent'means. The valve 14 prevents the compressed air in pipe 11 from escaping through the port 13, when the magnet- 2 is energized and hence the equilibrium within the pipe 11 (and consequently thatwithin the train pipe) .is maintained. As soon, however, as the magnet 2 becomes 1c energized,fthen air pressure in the plpe 11 and the port 13 will raise the valve 14 against the weight of the lever 5 and disturb the equilibrium within the train pipe to set the air brakes.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, I provide a goose-neck pipe 16, in communication with the pipe 11, and having a valved seat 17 to be engaged by a valve 19 of an extension 18 of the lever 5 beyond the pivot 6, so that when the magnet is energized the passage through the pipe 16 will be closed and the air prevented from escaping. When the magnet 2 becomes deenerglzed, however, the air pressure within the pipe 16 will force the valve 19 off its seat and permit the air to escape, thus disturbing the equilibrium within the pipe 11 and the train pipe and thereby setting the air' brake.

In the figures shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6,

-'I provide a dome or housing 20 having an aperture '21 to permit passage of the projecting portion of 'a shiftable or movable valve seat member 22, the projecting end of which terminates in a valve seat 23 to engage the valve 32 on the lever 5. The shiftable valve seat member 22 has a flange 24 and a threaded part 25 to receive a packing ring 26 which is retained by a ring nut 27, as indicated in the drawings. The pipe 11 screws into a head 29 that is secured to the base 1 by screws 30, a packing ring 31 being interposed to prevent es-/ cape of air. A spring 28 normally tends to forcethe valve seat 23 into contact with the valve 32.

In the modifications of the shiftable valve members shown in Fig. 6, an additional jam nut 33 is provided for retaining the ring nut 27 in position.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 7, the dome or. housing 20 has escape ports 34 and 35 and an aperture 38. valve seat 22 does not project through the top of the dome 20 but coiiperates with a valve 36 located within the dome or housing 20 below the ports 34 and 35. The valve 36 has its stem 37 projected through the aperture 38 in the housing 20, to engage the lever 5. The lever 5- has a pro-- h-" 39 beyond the support 4, between which, and the base 1, the compression spring 40 is held to close the valve 36 and holdthe armature 8 on the magnet 2.

The form shown in Fig. 8, is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 7, differing therefrom only in the length of the valve stem 37, the height of the dome or housing 20 and the provision of pipes 41 and .42, tapped into the apertures 34 and 35 respectively, by means of which pipes, suitable .signals (not shown) may be operated by the escaping air from the pipe 11 when the valve is open. In this form also, a curved heel 43 is provided on the lever 5 to engage the stem 37 and a coil spring 44 is secured The 46 and 47, into whiehpipes 41 and 42 may be tapped, as in the form shown in Fig. 8. In this form, however, the valve 52 is in the nature of a packed piston valve whose stem 53 proi'ects through an aperture 51 in the top wa I of the housi'n 45 and connects with the lever 5 through a ink 54 that is ivoted at 55 to the stem 53 and at 56 to the ever 5. Within the housing 45 a coil spring 57 surrounds the valve stem 53 to normally tend to move the piston valve downwardly to a position below the ports 46 and 47 when the armature 8 is in engagement with the magnet 2. Thus it will be seen that the piston valve 52 cuts off communication between the pipe 11 and the ports 46 and 47 when the parts are positioned asshown in Fi 9. The parts are positioned as shown 1n Fig. 9, when the magnet 2 is energized, but as soon as the circuit is broken through the malgnet 2, the air pressure from the pipe 11 w1 force the piston valve 52 upwardly beyond the ports 46 and47 to permitthe air' to escape through such ports and hence disturb the equilibrium within the pipe 11 and the train plpe and thereby set the brakes.

The form shown in 'Fi 10 differs from air escape or outlet pipe 41 is tapped into the base 1 into the port 10, which is provided with .a valve seat 63- against w ich the valve 60 rests. The casing 45 has a .threaded aperture 57 to receive a bearing plug 58 for the valve stem 59 which valve stem projects through said plug 58.. Within thehousing 45 the stem carries a packed iston 60, before referred to, that is always ocated above the inlet port for the pipe 11.- A spring 61 is interposed to normally force the packed piston 60 downwardly, as in the form shown in Fig. 9, and in the form shown in Fig. 10 the valve stem 59 is projected below the packed piston 60 and ter minates in a valve 62 that seats on a seat 63 formed in the base 1 to cut oil communication between the housing 45 and the outlet pipe 41, when the magnet 2 is energized, and the valve 2 is held on its seat 63. The valve stem 59 prggects through the bearing 58, as before-stat and is coupled with the lever through the medium of a pin 64 ton 60 than against the valve 62 and hence.

raising the valve 62 from its seat 63 and permit escape of air through the pipe 41* thus disturbing the equilibrium in the train pipe and pipe 11 and thereby setting the brakes. Itis also to be noticed thatthe packedv piston 60 prevents escape of air past the piston into the upper part of the housing 45 and hence it is unnecessary to form the bearing 58 with a gland. y

'In the forms shown in Figs. 11 and 12 the housing 45 has its ports 4647 reduced as at V 66.67 respectively to correspond with ports 69-70 of the slide valve 71, which valve has telescopic portions 72 that project through an aperture in the lower end 73 of the valve stem 74. The stem 74 has a portion 76 of reduced diameter to form a shoulder 75 that abuts the top of the housing 45 when the valve 71 is raised to aline the ports 666967- 70 respectively. The reduced portion 76 of the stem passes through a hole in the housing top and through a gland or packing box 77 to effect an air-tight joint. A coil spring 57 serves to assist in holding the valve 71 down to close the portsas in the forms shown in Figs. 9 and 10, while coil springs 7 8 serve to keep the valve heads 71 in alinement with the seats 79, as will be readily apparent by reference to Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings. When the magnet 2 becomes deenere gized to release the armature 8, the air pressure within the housing will act on the rod 74 and thereby raise the valve. 71 until the ports 6667 are open, thereby disturbing the equilibrium within the pipe 11 and setting the brakes.

The forms shown-in Figs. 13 and 14 difier from that shown in Fig. 11 and the "preceding figures, in that the housing 45 has its ports 4647 closed by flap valves 89. The ports;46 47 may be reduced as at 66'67 re spectively in a manner similar to the form shown in Fig. 11. The valves 89 have rubber gaskets 80 to effect an air-tight closure of the ports 66-67. The'valves 89 are pivoted to ears 81 within the housing and have forked arms 82 to straddle the stem 83. The

valves 89 are normally held closed by springs 84 as well as the air pressure in the housing 45 when the-magnet 2 is energized. The stem 83 has a head 85 to lift the valves 89 at times and it also has. a packed piston 86 operating within an a erture 87 in the top of the housing 45 to e ect an air-tight passage for the projecting end of the stem 83',

which end is pivoted-at 64 to the lever 5. The lever ,5 has a slot 65 as in the form shown in Fig. 11. When the magnet 2 is deenergized, the-air pressure with the housing 45 is suflicient to overcome. the force of the s ring. 84 and the weight of the lever 5 and f rce the piston 86 upwardly sufficiently to cause the rod 83 to lift the valves 89 and per mit escape of air into the pipes 41-42, thereby disturbing the equilibrium within the pipe 11 and setting theair brakes. The. cars 81 also serve as stops for the valves 89 to prevent them opening beyond a predetermined distance so as to prevent the piston 86 from leaving the apertures in the top of the housing.

In Fig. 16, I have disclosed a further modification of my invention which differs from the other forms in that I provide the dome 20 with a valve seat 90 to receive the valve 92 whose stem 93 projects through a bushing 94 that is tapped into the head of the dome 20, but is held in place by a check nut 95, the bushing 94 being apertured to permit passage of the stem 93 of the valve 92 and packed at 97 by the provision of a glandnut 98 tapped into the bushing or plug 94. The valve stem 93 is surrounded by a spring96 within the dome air space 91 to tend to seat the valve 92. The dome 20 in this form hasbut one aperture 35 for the outlet pipe 42. The lever 5 carries a valve stem engaging member 99, as'shown, that abuts the upper end of the valve stem 93. The magnet 2 is provided with an armature casing 101 that is secured to the magnet 2,

as at 102 and in this form the armature 8 is,

provided with a stem 100 that projects through the casing 101 and is pivoted at 104 to a rod 103 thatis tapped into a.-socket piece 105 which in turn is pivoted at' 107 to the V- shaped member 106 of a swivel joint, the

V-shap'ed member 106.being pivoted to the lever 5, by the connection 108. Thus the armature 8 is connectedowith the lever 5 by an adjustable swivel connection. A spring 109.

within the armature casing 101 assists the magnet 2 in holding the armature 8 down. By proper adjustments of the swivel link connection between the armature 8 and the lever 5 and the proper. adjustment of the member 99, the valve 92 and the armature 8 may be made to seat themselves simultaneously.

In operatlon the magnet 2 when energized holds the armature 8 down. In this it is assisted by the spring 109 as well as the spring 96 that surroundsthe valve stem 93. As soon, however, as the magnet 2 becomes deenergized the springs 109 and 96 not being of suificient strength toovercome the pressure within the passage 10, the valve 92 becomes unseated and air escapes through the pipe :42, thus disturbing the equilibrium passes through a plug 94 t at is packed atin the pipe 11 and consequently in the train pipe and setting the brakes.

The form shown in Fig. 17 "somewhat resembles the form shown in Fig. 9, in its eration as well as in its structure. In th1s form, the armature 8 is swivelly connected by the ball and socket joint 97 to the, lever in the same manner as the form shown in Fig. 9. In the form shown in Fig. 17 ,also the housing 45 has ports 46-47 for the'pipes 4142 respectively. I also provide the form shown in Fig. 17 with a packed piston valve 152 that operates in the passage of the base 1, the passage 10 being upwardly extended-by the integrally formed'wall 110. The stem 53 of the packed iston valve 152 97 and has a gland nut 98in a manner similar to the form shown in 'Fig. 16, a check nut.95 being provided, if desired. The stem 53 is pivoted at 64 to the lever 5, which in this form is provided with an elongated slot 65, as shown.

The operation of the form shown in Fig.

17 is similar to that of the form shown 1n- Fig. 9, the operation only differing in that a smaller iston area is obtained by the form shown in ig. 17, and hence less pressure is exerted against the ,piston valve 152 than that exerted against the piston valve 52 in the form shown in Fig. 9, and hence a weaker spring 57 may be provided in the form shown in Fi 17 than in the form shown in Fi 9, an also a weaker magnet 2 may be emp oyed. Furthermore as the piston 152 in the form shown in Fig. 17 goes up entirely out of its cylinder 1'10,-the distanoe it has to travel to permit the air to very much less than in the form shown in Fig. 9. As the spring has to be .fairly strong, the distance oftravelof the piston is a matter of some importance practically as experiments have s own.

In this. application I -make no specific claim to the construction of valve mechanism per ae, disclosed inFigs. 9, 11 and 17 of this application as the subject matter of such figures form's the subject matter of two otherv conding applications.

atIclaimist '1. An .electromagnet, a valve mechanism including a valve adapted to open by pressure from within. the valve mechanism, a

lever cooperating therewith, an armature for 55.

the magnet-earned by the lever to cause the lever to hold the valve shut when the magnet is energized, and means for assisting said magnet to normally hold said lever in its valve clbsing position.

2. An electromagnet, a valve mechanism including .a valve adapted to o n by-p'r'essure from within the, valve mec anism, a levercotiperating therewith, an armature for the magnet carried by the lever to cause the i 5' lever to hold the valve shit when the magnet train stopping systems,

is energized, means for assisting said magnet in normally holding said lever in its valve closing osition, and means for connecting said va ve with an air brake system of a train to set the brakes when the magnet is deenergized, and the lever released to permit the valve to open.

3. In a train sto ping system the combination with an air brake system of a train, a pipe connected with the train pipe, a valve. mec anism connected with said lpipe and including a movable valve normal y closing the outlet of the valve to maintain the air pressure within the valve and pipe, said closing means com rising a lever operatively connected wit the valve, an electromagnet, and an armature swivelly connected to the lever to cooperate with the electromagnet for retaining the lever in its valve o eratively connected with the valve, an

e ectromagnet, an armature swivelly connected to the lever to cooperate with. the electromagnet for retainin the lever in its valve closing position, an

5. In a valve mechanism for train stopping s stems comprising a base, a housing carri eating with the housing and withthe train pipe of an air brake system, said housing aving an outlet, a' shlftable valve within the housing to cut off communicataion between the outlet and the pipe that joins with the train pipe of the an brake system, a lever connected with said valve, an electromagnet on the base, an armature swivelly secured to .the lever to cooperate with the electroma at to hold the lever in a position to ose the valvevwhen the electromagnet is'energized and cut ofi communicas tion between the housing outlet and the pipe that connects with the train pipe.-

\ 6.. In a valve controlling mechanism for a base, a housing or dome thereon, and inlet ipe communicating withlsaid housing an connectible to the train pipe of a housing forthe valve mechanism and the electromagnet.

said housing having anoutlet thereby, a pipe connection communian air brake system, a shiftable valve seat 'within the housing, a valve for engagin said seat, a lever cooperatively connect with said valve, and electromagnetic devices coiiperatingwith the lever for holding the lever in a' position to close said valve T when the electromagnetic devices are energized.

. 7. In a valve contrblling' mechanism for train Stopping systems, a base, a housing or dome thereon, said housing having an out-' let and inlet pipe communicating with said housing and connectible to the train-pipe of an air brake system, a shiftable valve seat within the housing, a valve for engaging said seat, a lever cooperatively connected with said valve, an electromagneticdevice cooperating with the lever for holding the lever in a position to close said valve when the electromagneticdevice is energized, and

.means normally tending to move the shiftable valve seat in one direction.

8. In a valve controlling mechanism for train stopping systems, a base, a housing or dome thereon, said housing having anoutlet and inlet pipe communicating with said housing and connectible to the train pipe of an air brake system, a shiftable valve seat within the housing, a valve for engaging said seat, a lever cooperatively connected with said valve, electromagnetic devices cooperating with the lever for holding the lever in a position to close said valve when the electromagnetic devices are energized, said shiftable valve seat com rising a sleeve having a packed piston within the housing and having a valve seat portion to engage said valve.

9. In a valve controlling mechanism for train stopping systems, a base, a housing or dome thereon, said housin having an out- I let and inlet pipe communicating with said housing and connectible to the train pipe of an air brake system, a shiftable valve seat within the housing, a valve for engagin said seat, a lever cooperatively connecte with said valve, electromagnetic devices cooperating 'w1th the lever for holding the lever in a position to close 'said valve when the electroma' etic devices are energized,

means normal y tending to move the shift- 3 I able valve seat in one direction, said. shiftable' valve seat comprising a sleeve having a packed piston within the housing and havmg a valve seat portion to engagesaid valve.

10. A valve. mechanism including a valve adapted to open by pressure from within the valve mechanism, a lever cooperating therewith, an electromagnet, an armature therefor, swivel link connections'between said armature and said lever to hold said valve shut when the magnet is energized;

11. A valve mechanism including a vah'e 12. A valve mechanism including a valve adapted to open by pressure from within the valve mechanism, a lever cooperating therewith, an electromagnet, an armature -therefor, swivel link connections between said armature and said lever to hold .said valve $111 It when the magnet is energized, a housing for sald armature, and means within said hous-- ingand engaging said armature for tending to cause said armature to engage'sald magnet.

adapted to open by pressure from within the valve mechanism, a lever cooperating there- 13. A valve mechanismincluding a valve with, an electromagnet, an'armature therefor, directly swive y connected with said lever to hold said valve shut when the magnet is energized.

F. WEBB, J

Witnesses:

H. L. Armson, G. Sumavan. 

